Plaintiffs Verus Life, Inc., and Amanda Muzinich?s (?Plaintiffs?) Motion to Consolidate is Granted.
?When actions involving a common question of law or fact are pending before the court, it may order a joint hearing or trial of any or all the matters in issue in the actions.?? C.C.P. ? 1048(a).? Trials courts have wide discretion in this regard, are to be guided by the precept that consolidation is supposed to enhance trial court efficiency and avoid inconsistency and undue confusion.??Todd-Stenberg v. Dalkon Shield Claimants Trust?(1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 976, 979-980.
The approximately $281,000.00 in question, that which was allegedly charged by the defendants in the present matter on the American Express credit card, which the plaintiff in the other matter seeks from the Plaintiffs in the present matter.? The facts, damages, and questions of law in both matters appear to be the same or similar, calling for consolidation of these two matters.
Orange County Superior Court Case No. 2018-00974679 (Plaintiffs vs. Jeffrey Marks aka Jeff Marks, Kristin Elise Breen, and Pinnacle Ventures, Inc.), is to be consolidated into a single action for all purposes, with Orange County Superior Court Case No. 2018-00990583 (American Express National Bank vs. Amanda Muzinich and Verus Life, Inc.).? Case No. 2018-00974679 will become the lead case.? The consolidated matter will be heard for all purposes in Dept. C-20.
Plaintiffs to give notice.